Re: Help with IIGS

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <256966622.838483@lamg.com>, Vytas Banionis <Vytas@lamg.com> wrote:
> My friend who manages a self storage place was given a relatively new IIGS
> with color monitor, keyboard, a 3.5" & 5" external floppy drives, and a
> ImagewriterII printer.
> 
> My question is how to get the system working.  Does it have a Mac like
> interface?

When using most native IIgs software, yes.

The IIgs has two major modes:

- Emulation mode, in which it acts like a fast Apple IIe with lots of
  built-in I/O devices, extra memory, etc.  Most Apple II/II+/IIe/IIc
  software will run on the IIgs in emulation mode.  This includes the
  8-bit operating systems (ProDOS-8, DOS 3.3 and Apple II Pascal).

- Native mode, in which it is a 16-bit computer with direct access to
  all memory, an extensive ROM-based toolbox (based on the Macintosh
  toolbox) and a powerful operating system (GS/OS).  In native mode,
  the IIgs runs its own 16-bit software.

There are many hybrid programs that run in native mode from an 8-bit
operating system (or have no operating system), particularly games and
many demonstration programs.

There are three main types of GS/OS applications:

- Desktop programs.  The IIgs desktop is very similar to the Mac (about
  System 6 level - many of Mac System 7's features are not available on
  the IIgs, but a few are).

- Text programs.  These require a text shell such as ORCA/Shell or GNO.

- Graphics programs.  These run in graphics mode, but without the
  desktop interface.  Most programs in this category are games.

> There were no system disks and someone suggested that a System
> 6.05 for the Macintosh may work on the IIGS.  Would this be possible.

Definitely not.  The IIgs may have a user interface that is similar to
the Macintosh, but it cannot run Macintosh software.  The
microprocessor is difference (65816 instead of 68000) and the machine
architecture, toolbox and operating system are quite different
internally.

You need the IIgs System Software.  The latest version is System
6.0.1.  It requires at least 1MB of RAM, and I'd recommend more.  It
is also annoying to use System 6 and later on a IIgs with a single
3.5" drive and no hard drive, because the Finder needs to refer to the
system disk quite often.  This means you have to do quite a bit of
disk swapping.

If you don't need the features of the latest version of the system
software (in particular, you aren't running any applications that rely
on System 6.0 or 6.0.1), you can use System 5.0.4 instead.  This
doesn't require as much disk swapping as 6.0.1, and will run in
slightly less memory (mainly because it doesn't have as many add-ons
supplied with the operating system).  1MB is still required.

System 5.0.4 and 6.0.1 are available via FTP, but you might have
difficulty getting them onto IIgs disks.


Which model of the IIgs does your friend have?  There are two versions.

The original IIgs was released in 1986.  It has 256KB of RAM and 128KB
of ROM built into the computer.  There were two ROM revisions for this
machine, called "ROM 00" and "ROM 01".

In 1989, the revised IIgs was released.  It has 1MB of RAM and 256KB
of ROM.  There are several minor improvements to the machine and bug
fixes in the ROM, most of which are available on the original IIgs by
running the latest system software.  There has only been one ROM
revision for this machine, called "ROM 3".

Both versions have a memory expansion slot that allows the addition of
at least 4MB of RAM.  Some memory cards will allow the total memory to
be expanded to 8MB, but this can cause compatibility problems with
some devices.

When the IIgs is booted, the initial text screen says "Apple IIgs" at
the top, and indicates the ROM version at the bottom of the screen ("ROM
Version 01" or "ROM Version 3"), along with a copyright message.

If you have the original ROM (ROM 00), the initial screen has no text
at the bottom, and only says "Apple IIgs" at the top.  This ROM
version is not supported by current system software and should be
upgraded to ROM version 1.


Were any manuals received with the computer?  There should be an
"Owner's Guide" or "Owner's Reference", which has a lot of basic
information about the computer, including documentation for the
built-in Control Panel, which is rather important.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand